Part V – The Path of the Three Truths
After passing through the enchanted forest and being accepted as guests, the group entered a new area, where the atmosphere shifted subtly with every step. The cherry trees grew sparse, replaced by tall, slender trees with trunks pale as bone and leaves that trembled without wind. The sky stood still; time felt suspended.
Yuu suddenly stopped. His body tensed, ears upright, tail raised.
"This..." he said in a serious tone, devoid for once of his usual playfulness, "is the heart of the Forest. Ayame's trial is about to begin."
Yuri swallowed, a chill running down her spine.
One heartbeat.
Then another.
And the world dissolved.
Yuri opened her eyes. She was standing in a golden field under a clear blue sky. Birds sang. People laughed. She recognized faces… and herself. But not as she was now. She wore an elegant mage's gown, embroidered with golden threads. At her feet, children offered her flowers. Before her, a radiant city cheered her name.
She was loved. Respected. Powerful.
A gentle voice whispered:
"There are no dangers here. Only what you deserve. Stay. You'll be happy."
Yuri felt temptation bite into her heart. What if it was truly possible?
But then, she saw the shadow of loneliness behind those perfect smiles. She saw Kayla, Lucen, Yuu… fade from the vision.
She closed her eyes.
"No. I can't stay in something that isn't real."
The landscape vanished.
Now she walked through a hall of mirrors. Each one reflected a different version of herself.
A scientist, surrounded by awards and formulas.
A painter, in a studio drenched in color.
A warrior in shining armor, protector of Earth.
All of them stared at her.
A deeper voice asked:
"Who would you have been, if you hadn't been called here?"
Yuri approached one of the mirrors. She looked herself straight in the eyes.
"Maybe I could have been many things… But now I'm just me. And I need to understand what that means. And make it matter."
The glass cracked, then exploded into light.
The light grew warm.
Yuri was a child again, sitting beside her grandmother on the couch. The television hummed softly, their hands entwined.
The elderly woman looked at her with tenderness, squeezing her fingers.
"Help others, even if you don't understand why. Sometimes the only way to change the world… is to be there."
Yuri didn't hold back the tears. That moment tore her heart open, but stitched it back together just as gently.
"I don't want to run away. I don't want to become something. I want to be myself… and help, like you taught me."
The illusion shattered.
Yuri collapsed to her knees… but this time, she was free.
Before her, a bridge suspended between two trees lit up. There, standing gracefully, was Ayame.
She wore a refined kimono in soft pink tones. On her face, a fox mask covered only one side. Her visible eyes were deep and ancient, like the Forest itself.
Yuri stood, trembling. Ayame stared at her in silence, then slowly raised her hand and removed the mask.
Her face was young, yet marked with wisdom.
"Welcome to my realm, Yuri. Now I know you are not just a shadow."
Meanwhile…
Lucen had remained still the entire time, eyes closed. He had felt everything. Every emotion, every trial. Not the images… but the echo of Yuri's soul.
> "She has something even I've lost…"
"That purity… that silent strength…"
He said nothing.
But in his heart, something had shifted.